Switches



March 27, 1956 E. T. PLATZ ETAL 2,740,011

SWITCHES Filed May 25. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 EL W OD T PLAT Z 103E139 MESS/N6 IN V EN TOR.$

BY THE/R ATTO/PA/EV Mam}! 1956 E. T. PLATZ EI'AL 2,740,011

SWITCHES Filed May 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EL WOUD 7. PM 72 JOSEPH MESS/N6 IN VEN TORS March 27, 1956 E. T. PLATZ ETAL SWITCHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25. 1950 Iigi EL WOOD 7' PLQT Z JOSEPH MESS/N6 INVENTORS BY/ 5 THE/F? ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 E. T. PLATZ ETAL 2,740,011

SWITCHES Filed May 25. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4

EL W000 7. PL TZ JOSEPH MESS/N6 IN VEN TOR.3

BY M

THE/"3 flTTOR/VEY United States Patent" swrrcnns Elwooda'll- Platz and; Joseph .Messing; Detroit, Mich., assignors to.-BullDog Electric- Products. 00., Detroit, v Micli., a corporation .of West. Virginia Application May' 255 1950, Serial No. 164,098-

15 Claims. (Cl..200--67) This inventionrelates to switches ing eneral, and more part-icnIarly; discloses a switch characterized by; extreme simplicity of desi'gn'and economy of 'manufacture' while nevertheless preserving high eliiciencyof operation:

The switchhereof includes an" opentop boxhaving a swinging cover and containing an insulating base upon whichthe operating parts of the i switch are included. The operatingparts-include an operatingshaft', a handle at one endofthe shaft, a contactor-at'the other end of the shaft-and"an'overcenter'spring for overcenter or snap action; The swinging cover -mounts a rotary handle which detachablycouples to one end of-the operating sli'aftwhen the-cover-is moved" toa'closed' position.-

A particularobjectof the'present invention-resides in the arrangement for-establishing anoperative connection between the contact'orofthe switch and-the operating shaft.

Another object is the arrangement for mounting the operatingshaft of the'switch'for rotary movement while maintaining a simple. construction for those elements. In: accomplishingthis-object 'the operating metal shaft is'journalied'in a vertical bore or hole.in the base of insulation-material and such 'shaft is formed with a thin orknif edge bearing onthe wall of the base bore or hole.

Afurther object is to provide, in a switch of this gen eral character, a contactor arrangementlincluding a..movable plate of. insulation material having. a movable contact whichibridges stationary contacts on opposite sides of the plate .whereby the movementof the plate serves as a b'afile and as an arc severing means between the stationary contacts A. fiirther; object. is. to mount the contactcarrier, or. movable plate of'insulation, in.such.a way that it automatieally, aligns..itself. and .its movable.-contactsto the stationary.contactstocbeubridged or connected-by the. movable contacts.

Stillnfunther objects aims of thepresent invention will be better understood upon reference to the appended drawings.-.illustrating aswitch embodying the present invention:-

In these-drawingsz:

Figs 1-. isa top-plan: view of the. switch: with. a cover thereof \shownclosed and -with ahandle of the switch. shownwinttheopen circuit. or fo'ti position:

Fig.2 2=is.a:toprviewr Eutt'withi the cover removed and theboxzopenrto expose-the interior of the switch;-

Figst 3 and 4 are longitudinal'sectional views as if on lines 3 -3 and of Fig; 2 respectively.

Fig.1 5 illustrates the switching parts on line 55- of Figr3'iin on or open circuit position:

Fig. 6 illustrates the switching parts of'Fig. 5 parts in closed icircuit oron position.

Fig- 8 is a: transverse sectional view forline8-8 of High keferring to the; drawings": there is-illustrated a switch comprisingiaaboxwlti on whose -upper edge" is hinged; as

at'-12' and'12, a cover 14 having a central hole 16 journa'lling the stem' portion 18 of a washer 19 secured to a handle-2'0; To the lower end of the stem portion is secured a U-shaped stirrup or coupler 22 adapted to be detachablycoupled, when the cover 14 is swung closed, to certain. cooperating parts Within the box 10 to be presently described.

Mounted on the bottom 24 of the box it) by a suitable mounting means such as the clip 26 and a mounting SCI'EWI'ZS is an insulation base 30 having a vertical central hole or bore 32, generally triangular in shape, in which is disposed a vertical operating shaft 33 having an extension or arm 35 projecting laterally into a clear space under a raised portion of the base 34 the clear space affording room for vertical and horizontal movement of the extension 35 at the lower end of the shaft. It is to the upper end of such shaft that the coupler 22 couples the handle Ziiwhen the box cover is swung down and it will thus be seen that horizontal rotary movement of the handle 20, when the cover is closed, will cause similar movement in the same direction of the extension 35 of the operating shaft; Extension 35 is disposed in a slot of an insulation co-ntactor plate or carrier 40 which may be semi-circular in shape and provided with two contactors42 of U form Whose bight passes through openings of the plate 40 and whose opposed legs are on opposite sides of such plate to mate with line contact 44 and load contacts 460]? the base 3t) and thus the two contacts- 42"may connect the two line and load contacts inpairs, as in a two-pole switch.

Each line contact 44 is on the tip endof a strap 4% attached to the base by a mounting pin or rivet 52 and having a line conductor terminal binding screw 54.

Each load contact 46 is in the form of a thick washer and is secured to the under side of the base why a screw 56 threaded into the contact 46 and which secures to. the upper surface 'ofthe base 36' a fuse clip $3 adaptedto be connected to a similar fuse clip as through a cartridge fuse 62. Clip 60 is formed with a strap 64 terminating in a'load conductor terminal binding screw 66 under fuse 621 Thus, each pole of the circuit may be completed from the line terminal binding bindingscrew 66 through strap i8, line contact 44 movable contact 42, load contact 5, cartridge fuse clip 58, cartridge fuse 62, cartridge fuse clip so, and strap'o i.

The two poles'are suitably separated by barriers 6'768 and'69, projecting. upwardly from the base. Barrier 67 buttresses barrier 68 which surrounds the shaft. Barrier 69forms a marginal wall for a shelf of the base which accommodates a neutral plate "7h fastened to the base by a suitable mounting screw 'ii and having suitable neutral.

and a neutral plate groundareloosely disposed on humped portions '76 and 78 of the extension 35 and on a spring retainer plate 80, respectively. The spring retainer plate iii is positioned firmly in avertical slot of the base and tightly engages the mounting,screw 28 for the base which threads into the bottom of the boxl'tll In this way the metal parts are at all times grounded to the box with spring 74 exerting a ground maintainingbias or pressure on such parts.

The handle 20 and its complementing part 18, 19 and 22 aregrounded to the box through the cover 14 in which they arejournalled or mounted.

When the switch cover 14 is swung closed, the handle 2t)- coupled'through the coupler 22 to the shaft in such screw 54 to the load terminal.

contacts 44-40. The clear areas on the top of the base 39 on which are mounted the cartridge fuse clips 58 are of suflicient size to accommodate cylindrical socket shells, not shown, for receiving plug type fuses. In this way the switch may be provided either with the cartridge fuses and cartridge fuse clips here shown or with plug type fuse socket shells and plug type fuses not shown.

It will also be observed that the operating spring 74 is so positioned that it constantly biases the contactor plate 40 secured to it, upwardly against the under surface of the base 3t) at 90, and at the same time longitudinally against a vertical edge 91 of the triangular hole 32 in which the shaft is positioned, and thus provides a spring pressure for the journalled parts against the journalling or bearing surfaces 99-31, these being the vertical edge 91 of the triangular hole 32 in the base 39 and the under surface 90 of the base 30. In this way the spring maintains a most efficient bearing for the operating parts of the switch.

it is to be noted that the operating spring 74 creates a spring pressure contact for security of grounding between the shaft and the screw grounded mounting 28.

We claim:

1. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, an operating shaft pivotal within said bore and having a radially extending projection, a contact carrier spacing said supporting means and projection and connected to said shaft for pivoting therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection and cooperating with the latter for overcenter action, said spring being also biased for yieldingly urging said projection axially against said contact carrier.

2. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a pivotal operating shaft within said bore and having a radially extending projection adjacent one end of said bore, said shaft being pivotal within said bore to swing said projection in opposite directions from an intermediate position, a contact carrier pivotally seated at one side against said supporting means adjacent said one end of the bore, said contact carrier being keyed to said shaft to pivot therewith and being seated at the side opposite said one side against said projection to space the latter from said one end of the bore, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection and arranged to urge the latter in the direction toward which the projection is swung from said intermediate position.

3. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a pivotal operating shaft within siad bore and having a radially extending projection adjacent one end of said bore, said shaft being pivotal within said bore to swing said projection in opposite directions from an intermediate postion, a contact carrier seated between said projection and supporting means adjacent said one end of the bore and connected with said shaft to pivot therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection and arranged when the latter is at said intermediate position to press radially inward on said projection for overcenter action, said spring being also biased to urge said projection axially against said contact carrier.

4. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a pivotal operating shaft within said bore and having a radially extending projection adjacent one end of said bore, said shaft being pivotal within said bore to swing said projection in opposite directions from an intermediate position, a contact carrier connected with said shaft to pivot therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection to press radially inward thereon for overcenter action when said projection is at said intermediate position.

5. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a pivotal shaft having a radially extending projection said shaft extending axially from said projection into one end of said bore, a swinging contact carrier mounted on said shaft to float freely axially thereof and being keyed thereto to pivot therewith, said carrier being pivotally seated against said supporting means intermediate the latter and said projection and being also seated against the latter, and overcenter spring means.

connecting said supporting means and projection and arranged for overcenter action on the latter.

6. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having abore therein, a pivotal shaft having a radialiy extending projection, said shaft extending axially from said projection into one end of said bore and being pivotal therein to swing said projection in opposite directions from an intermediate position, a swinging contact carrier seated between said projection and supporting means adjacent said one end of said bore, said carrier bein keyed to said shaft to pivot therewith and being freely floating axially thereof, and overcenter spring means cooperating with said projection for overcenter action thereon, said spring means being also biased for yieldingly urging said projection axially toward saidcarrier.

7. In a switch device, a housing, an insulation base mounted in said housing, a pivotal shaft having a radially extending projection, said shaft extending axially from said projection into one end of a bore in said base and being pivotal within said bore to swing said projection in opposite directions from an intermediate position, a swinging contact carrier keyed to said shaft for pivoting therewith, a spring retainer, a screw electrically connecting said retainer to said housing, an overcenter spring electrically connecting said retainer and projection and ar ranged for overcenter action on the latter. I p

8. In a switching device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, said bore having generally opposed sidewall portions converging to an axially extending seat, an operating shaft within said bore and having an axially extending edge pivotally seated against said seat, a contact carrier connected with said shaft for pivoting therewith, and an overcenter spring cooperating with said shaft for overcenter action thereon, said sidewall portions comprising movement limiting stops forpivotal movement of said shaft. i v I 9. In a switching device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, said bore having generally opposed sidewall portions converging to an axially'ex: tending seat, an operating shaftwithin said bore and having an axially extending edge pivotally seated against said 'seat, said shaft also having a radially extending projection, a contact carrier seated between said projection and supporting means and connected with said shaft for pivoting therewith, and an overceuter'spring connecting said supporting means and projection and arrangedfor overcenter action on the latter, said sidewall portions comprising movement limiting stops for pivotal movement of said shaft. l

10. In a switch device, supporting means comprising 1 a housing and an insulation base mounted in said housing,

said base having generally opposed wallportions converging to an axially extending seat, a swiugingoperating shaft having an axially extending edge pivotally seated against said seat to swing the shaft toward either of'said wall portions from an intermediate position, said-shaft also having a radial projection extending in a direction outward from said seat, said wall portionscomprising movement limiting stops for said swinging shaft, 21 contact carrier pivotally seated against said base and spacing the latter from said projection and beingalso keyed to said shaft to swing therewith.

11. In a switch device, supporting means comprising a housing and an insulation base mounted ins-aid housing, said base having generally opposed wall portions c'onverging to an axially extending seat, a swinging operating shaft having an axially extending edge pivotally .s'eated against said seat toswing the shaft toward either of said wall portions from an intermediate position, said shaft also having a radial projection extending in a direction outward from said seat, said wall portions comprising movement limiting stops for said swinging shaft, a contact carrier pivotally seated against said base and spacing the latter from said projection and being also keyed to said shaft to swing therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection and arranged when the latter is at said intermediate position to press radially inward on said projection for overcenter action, thereby to urge said edge yieldingly against said seat.

12. In a switch device, supporting means comprising a housing and an insulation base mounted in said housing, said base having generally opposed wall portions converging to an axially extending seat, a swinging operating shaft having an axially extending edge pivotally seated against said seat to swing the shaft toward either of said wall portions from an intermediate position, said shaft also having a radial projection extending in a direction outward from said seat, said wall portions comprising movement limiting stops for said swinging shaft, a contact carrier pivotally seated against said base and spacing the latter from said projection and being also keyed to said shaft to swing therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and projection and arranged when the latter is at such intermediate position to press radially inward on said projection for overcenter action, thereby to urge said edge yieldingly against said seat, said spring being also biased for yieldingly urging said projection axially against said contact carrier.

13. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a swinging shaft having an edge pivotally seated against an axially extending rounded wall portion of said bore to swing said shaft transversely within said bore, a contact carrier connected to said shaft for'swinging therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and shaft and arranged for overcenter action on the latter.

14. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a swinging shaft having an edge pivotally seated against an axially extending rounded wall portion of said bore to swing said shaft transversely within said bore, a contact carrier connected to said shaft for swinging therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and shaft and arranged for overcenter action on the latter, said spring being biased for yieldingly urging said pivotally seated edge against said axially extending wall portion of said bore.

15. In a switch device, supporting means including a portion having a bore therein, a swinging shaft having an edge pivotally seated against an axially extending rounded wall portion of said bore to swing said shaft transversely within said bore, said bore having movement limiting wall portions arranged in the path of transverse swinging movement of said shaft, a contact carrier connected to said shaft for swinging therewith, and an overcenter spring connecting said supporting means and shaft and arranged for overcenter action on the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,422,625 Schwartz July 11, 1922 1,855,959 Guinot Apr. 26, 1932 2,304,479 Schellenger Dec. 8, 1942 2,372,778 Graves, Jr. Apr. 3, 1945 2,467,307 Hammerly Apr. 12, 1949 2,475,338 Rowe July 5, 1949 2,506,148 Hammerly May 2, 1950 2,529,716 Vaksvik et al. Nov. 14, 1950 

